Johnnie Parsons


Johnnie Woodrow Parsons was an American race car driver from Los Angeles, California who won the Indianapolis 500 in 1950.
During his racing career, he drove for several seasons, including his AAA championship and Indianapolis 500 win, for Ed Walsh's team. Walsh was an owner of Kurtis Kraft, the leading constructor of AAA championship cars. Parsons was a charger, needing cars to race against, frequently moving from last on the grid to a win in spectacular displays of dirt track driving ability.
Johnnie Parsons had the dubious distinction of being the only Indianapolis 500 winner to have his name misspelled on the Borg-Warner Trophy. The silversmith carved "Johnny" instead of "Johnnie." He had a son named Johnny who competed at Indy a dozen times. In 1991, during a trophy restoration project, it was proposed to correct the spelling, albeit posthumously. However, it was decided to keep the error intact, as part of the trophy's lore.

Racing career

Parsons first raced in open wheel cars on the West Coast of the United States in a midget car. He won the 1942 season championship in the United Midget Association. He won 18 feature events in the abbreviated season. Parsons began racing in the AAA after World War II. He captured the third feature in the 1948 Night Before the 500 midget race at the 16th Street Speedway. Parsons finished second in his first Indy 500 in 1949. He won the season championship that season. He also won the 1950 Indianapolis 500. He won the 1955 Turkey Night Grand Prix midget car race.
After he retired, he became the Chief Steward for the USAC Midget division on the West Coast in the 1970s.

Awards

Indianapolis 500 results

Starts10
Poles0
Front Row0
Wins1
Top 53
Top 104
Retired4

The Indianapolis 500 was part of the FIA World Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indy during those years were credited with World Championship points and participation. Johnnie Parsons participated in 9 World Championship races. He won one race, set one fastest leading lap, and finished on the podium once. He accumulated a total of 12 championship points.
Parsons is one of only three drivers to win on his world championship début. The other two are Nino Farina, who won the first world championship racethe 1950 British Grand Prix, 17 days earlierand Giancarlo Baghetti, who won the 1961 French Grand Prix.

Complete Formula One World Championship results

YearEntrantChassisEngine1234567891011WDCPoints
1950Wynn's Friction / Kurtis-KraftKurtis Kraft 1000Offenhauser L4GBRMON500
1		SUIBELFRAITA6th9
1951Wynn's Friction Proofing / WalshKurtis Kraft 3000Offenhauser L4SUI500
Ret		BELFRAGBRGERITAESPNC0
1952Jim RobbinsKurtis Kraft 1000Offenhauser L4SUI500
10		BELFRAGBRGERNEDITANC0
1953Belond Equa-FlowKurtis Kraft 500BOffenhauser L4ARG500
Ret		NEDBELFRAGBRGERSUIITANC0
1954Belond Equa-Flow / Calif. MufflerKurtis Kraft 500COffenhauser L4ARG500
Ret		BELFRAGBRGERSUIITAESPNC0
1955Trio Brass Foundry / AndersonKurtis Kraft 500COffenhauser L4ARGMON500
Ret		BELNEDGBRITANC0
1956J.C. AgajanianKuzma Indy RoadsterOffenhauser L4ARGMON500
4		BELFRAGBRGERITA18th3
1957Sumar/Chapman RootKurtis Kraft 500GOffenhauser L4ARGMON500
16		FRAGBRGERPESITANC0
1958Fred GerhardtKurtis Kraft 500GOffenhauser L4ARGMONNED500
12		BELFRAGBRGERPORITAMORNC0